Medical records from Rukunyu General Hospital indicate a steady rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kamwenge District over the past three years, raising concerns among health officials.
A visit by our reporter to the hospital this week confirmed the upward trend in NCD cases. According to the hospital’s Records Officer, Caleb Mugarurirwe, the facility recorded 3,259 cases in 2023, which increased to 3,636 in 2024 before rising further to 3,704 cases in 2025. The figures represent an overall increase of 13.66 percent over the three-year period.
Mugarurirwe attributed the increase partly to improved screening and detection of NCDs. However, he noted that incomplete patient registers continue to pose a challenge, affecting accurate record-keeping and the effective monitoring of disease trends.
The Medical Superintendent of Rukunyu General Hospital, Dr. Ivan Mujuni, said the hospital has intensified community outreach programmes and screening services for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and mental health disorders.
He explained that patients diagnosed with abnormal results are enrolled in the hospital’s NCD clinic, where they receive treatment and regular follow-up care.
Dr. Mujuni warned that non-communicable diseases are increasingly affecting people of all age groups, largely due to unhealthy lifestyles, environmental factors, stress, and delayed medical screening.
He urged members of the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, undergo routine medical check-ups, and seek early treatment to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the district.
